EP1043846A2 - Drahtlose Übertragungsvorrichtung - Google Patents

Drahtlose Übertragungsvorrichtung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1043846A2
EP1043846A2 EP00107275A EP00107275A EP1043846A2 EP 1043846 A2 EP1043846 A2 EP 1043846A2 EP 00107275 A EP00107275 A EP 00107275A EP 00107275 A EP00107275 A EP 00107275A EP 1043846 A2 EP1043846 A2 EP 1043846A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
microphones
microphone unit
emitting means
microphone
signal
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00107275A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Keith c/o Phonic Ear Inc. Lam
Yvonne c/o Phonic Ear Inc. Ho
Lynn c/o Phonic Ear Inc. Danehy
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Phonic Ear Inc
Original Assignee
Phonic Ear Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Phonic Ear Inc filed Critical Phonic Ear Inc
Publication of EP1043846A2 publication Critical patent/EP1043846A2/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04B—TRANSMISSION
    • H04B10/00—Transmission systems employing electromagnetic waves other than radio-waves, e.g. infrared, visible or ultraviolet light, or employing corpuscular radiation, e.g. quantum communication
    • H04B10/11—Arrangements specific to free-space transmission, i.e. transmission through air or vacuum
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R1/00—Details of transducers, loudspeakers or microphones
    • H04R1/08—Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor
    • H04R1/083—Special constructions of mouthpieces
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04R—LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; DEAF-AID SETS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
    • H04R2420/00—Details of connection covered by H04R, not provided for in its groups
    • H04R2420/07—Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones

Definitions

  • the invention relates to wireless communication systems. Such systems are well known within the art of transmitting a signal from an emitter to a receiver.
  • the systems comprise both infrared communication systems and radio frequency communication systems.
  • a previously known system comprises a stationary microphone for transforming an acoustical signal to an electrical signal, which is modulated for infrared transmission in modulating electronics. These electronics are connected to a stationary IR emitter, which transmits the modulated signal.
  • An IR receiver e.g. mounted in a headset or body-pack, is provided at each of the persons in the environment desiring to receive the emitted signal. The received signal is demodulated in demodulating electronics and transferred to the earphones worn by the listener.
  • the receivers and connected demodulating electronics may be connected to various other types of transmission equipment, such as loudspeakers.
  • the education environment has until recently only been able to use radio frequency transmission systems.
  • Such systems has a significant functionality, however since the signal may travel beyond the limitations of the classroom in the school there is a need of using a different transmission frequency for each classroom.
  • This means that such systems may have limitations of use where the required number of frequencies cannot be provided and furthermore that the transmitter and receivers have to be tuned to the same frequency, which may cause some trouble in case a significant number of different frequencies are used.
  • the systems usually comprise a clip on type microphone.
  • the speaker has to move his/her head from side to side, which means that the sound pressure to the microphone often will be weak, resulting in a weak signal and hence in a poor intelligibility for the students.
  • headsets are known, which are mounted on the head of the speaker and where the microphone is mounted on a boom. These headsets are undesirable due to the head mounting, as many find that they interfere with the hair of the wearer.
  • the IR transmission systems Compared to the radio frequency transmission systems the IR transmission systems have the advantage of not being able to transmit a signal beyond the physical limitations of the environment, i.e. the walls, the floor and the ceiling, meaning that the same transmission frequency may be used in adjacent class rooms in a school.
  • systems which comprises a portable microphone and a portable infrared emitter.
  • the emitter transmits a signal, which is received by a stationary receiver.
  • the signal is afterwards processed and transmitted to stationary loudspeakers.
  • the portable microphone and emitter normally are arranged as neckbands or clip on units meaning that the microphone and the emitter are adapted to be placed in front of the body of the user.
  • this means like in connection with the above mentioned microphones of the RF transmission systems, that the often occurring movements of the speakers head in many positions will provide an insufficient input due to variations in sound pressure level and therefor a similar insufficient output.
  • a system which comprises a handheld microphone/emitter unit. This means that the speaker is unable to use both hands and at the same time hold the microphone in a correct position. This is inconvenient in many situations, i.e. in an education environment.
  • a system comprising: At least two microphones for receiving the wearers voice; at least one signal emitter; a receiver and end transmission equipment; where the microphones form part of a single portable unit suitable for placement around the wearers neck and where the microphones are placed in a fixed position in relation to the unit and with a mutual distance allowing the wearer to turn his head from side to side substantially and still maintain a significant sound pressure level towards at least one microphone.
  • the microphones are placed in a fixed position with mutual distance it is possible to provide an optimal positioning in front of the wearers mouth independent of the wearers position of the head, hereby being able to provide a proper microphone input signal independent of the position of the wearers head.
  • the receiver(s) may be stationary or portable.
  • the end receiver equipment may comprise one or more loudspeakers or as an alternative portable loudspeaker headsets.
  • an IR emitter is provided as a signal emitter.
  • at least two IR emitting means are provided, where these two means are positioned on the unit to cover different transmission areas.
  • the blocking of the IR signals is reduced significantly.
  • the two IR emitting means are electrically connected in parallel. Hereby power consumption is reduced.
  • IR emitting means are provided. Preferably all the IR emitting means are electrically connected in parallel. The four IR means provides for an even more improved area coverage. Moreover the presence of four means provides for backup in case of failure of one of the IR means.
  • the invention further relates to a microphone unit for use in a wireless transmission communication system, the microphone unit comprising at least two microphones; at least one signal emitting means; the two microphones being mounted in a position with mutual distance in front of the wearers mouth, allowing the wearer to turn his head from side to side substantially and still maintain a significant sound pressure level towards at least one microphone.
  • a IR emitter is provided as a signal emitter.
  • at least two IR emitting means are provided, where these two means are positioned to cover different transmission areas.
  • the two IR emitting means are advantageously electrically connected in parallel.
  • the microphones are in the preferred embodiment placed on the unit in such a manner that they are distanced from the chest of the wearer, preferably at positions close to the wearer's mouth. Hereby the microphones are optimally positioned for reception of the wearer's voice.
  • the IR emitting means is/are preferably positioned adjacent the microphones. This reduces the blocking to a minimum since the IR emitting means hereby are somewhat distanced from the users body.
  • an antenna is provided as a signal emitter for transmission of RF signals, preferably FM signals.
  • RF signals preferably FM signals.
  • the microphone unit comprises a curved element having two opposite ends, where the microphones are positioned substantially at the respective ends of the curved element. This embodiment of the unit rests against the back of the wearer's neck and the shoulders of the wearer with the respective ends in front of the wearer's face.
  • the microphone unit comprises a curved element having two opposite ends, where the ends of this curved element are adapted to rest behind the wearers neck and where the microphones are positioned at a distance from these opposite ends, preferbly on arms protruding from the curved element.
  • This embodiment also rests against the back of the wearer's neck.
  • This embodiment has the advantage of being mountable from the front of the wearer, hereby avoiding any interference with the wearer's hair and furthermore requiring a less extensive arm movement during the mounting.
  • the placement of the microphones on arms protruding from the curved element brings the microphones closer to the wearer's mouth, hereby improving the voice reception.
  • the curved element is preferably manufactured from a flexible material allowing the ends of it to be flexed in a manner, which allows these to pass the neck of the wearer and flex back to a position where the ends may rest behind the neck of the wearer. In this resting position the microphones are in a suitable position for receiving the wearer voice signals.
  • an angular element may be provided.
  • FIG. 1 a communication system appears, which comprises a speaker side system and a listener side system.
  • the speaker side system comprises a microphone unit comprising two microphones 1,2 and two infrared (IR) LED's 8,9 mounted on a collar.
  • the unit is described more detailed in connection with Fig.2 and Fig. 3.
  • the microphone input signals are transferred to a modulating system 5 through wires 3,4 and after modulation from the modulating system 5 through wires 6,7 to the LED's 8,9 which emit the signal towards the listener side system.
  • the speaker side system is powered by a battery.
  • the listener side system comprises two receivers 10,11 (further receivers may be provided), a demodulating system 12, an amplifier 13 and two speakers 14,15 for outputting the received, demodulated and possibly amplified signal.
  • the listener side system may be powered either by a battery or by any other available electrical power source.
  • the listener side system may be stationary, portable or a combination of these.
  • the modulating and demodulating electronics are well known within the art of wireless transmission in the IR and in the RF area.
  • a microphone unit according to the invention appears in a front view. It appears that the microphone unit comprises a collar-like curved element 16 having two free ends 17,18, which are intended to be located at the rear side of the wearers neck when the microphone unit is mounted.
  • the two microphones 1,2 are mounted on two arms 19,20 protruding from the collar 16 in such manner that the microphones preferably have a mutual distance of between 2 and 6 inches. This may however be different dependent of the characteristics of the microphones.
  • the LED's 8,9 are mounted on the same protruding arms 19,20.
  • the microphone unit appears seen from the side. It appears that the arms 19,20 protrude somewhat from the curved element 16 adapted for mounting round the wearer's neck. Hereby the microphones 1,2 are brought closer to the wearer's mouth and an improved input is achieved.
  • a second microphone unit appears in a front view. It appears that the microphone unit comprises a collar-like curved element 21 having two free ends 22,23 intended to be located at the front of the wearers neck when the microphone unit is mounted.
  • the two microphones 1,2 are mounted at the ends 22,23 of the curved element 21 in such manner that the microphones preferably have a mutual distance of between 2 and 6 inches.
  • the LED's 8,9 are mounted adjacent the microphones at the ends 22,23 of the curved element 21.
  • the microphone unit appears seen from the side. It appears that the curved element is somewhat bend at a short distance from the ends in order hereby to bring the microphones closer to the wearer's mouth and hereby achieve an improved input.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Circuit For Audible Band Transducer (AREA)
  • Transmitters (AREA)
EP00107275A 1999-04-05 2000-04-04 Drahtlose Übertragungsvorrichtung Withdrawn EP1043846A2 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US28608199A 1999-04-05 1999-04-05
US286081 1999-04-05

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1043846A2 true EP1043846A2 (de) 2000-10-11

Family

ID=23096985

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00107275A Withdrawn EP1043846A2 (de) 1999-04-05 2000-04-04 Drahtlose Übertragungsvorrichtung

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US6799018B1 (de)
EP (1) EP1043846A2 (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1189479A1 (de) * 2000-09-15 2002-03-20 Phonic Ear, Inc. Kommunikationssystem mit drahtloser Übertragung
EP4091682A1 (de) * 2021-05-20 2022-11-23 Bodet Time & Sport Erkennung von pfiffen einer trillerpfeife

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US20120259638A1 (en) * 2011-04-08 2012-10-11 Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Apparatus and method for determining relevance of input speech
JP1516137S (de) * 2014-03-05 2015-01-26
USD766210S1 (en) * 2014-07-29 2016-09-13 Onvocal, Inc Wearable headset
USD736178S1 (en) * 2014-08-14 2015-08-11 Cleer Gear Llc For a wireless necklace headset
TWD172221S (zh) * 2014-08-14 2015-12-01 三星電子股份有限公司 耳機之部分
US20140363021A1 (en) * 2014-08-26 2014-12-11 Sheng-Jie Wang Collar/headset microphone cable control device
TWD172219S (zh) * 2014-10-03 2015-12-01 索尼移動通訊股份有限公司 耳機
USD756958S1 (en) * 2014-10-21 2016-05-24 Lg Electronics Inc. Wireless headset
USD756959S1 (en) * 2014-10-21 2016-05-24 Lg Electronics Inc. Wireless headset
EP3015975A1 (de) * 2014-10-30 2016-05-04 Speech Processing Solutions GmbH Steuerungsvorrichtung für eine Diktiermaschine
USD771010S1 (en) * 2015-05-27 2016-11-08 James Louis Necklace combined with audio electronics
USD793358S1 (en) * 2015-09-02 2017-08-01 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Wireless headset
USD800088S1 (en) * 2015-09-02 2017-10-17 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Wireless headset
USD798267S1 (en) * 2015-11-18 2017-09-26 Redesign Studio, Llc Earbud headphones that convert into an accessory
USD796473S1 (en) * 2015-12-18 2017-09-05 Bose Corporation Set of headphones
JP1558212S (de) * 2015-12-22 2016-09-12
USD797701S1 (en) * 2016-03-18 2017-09-19 Bose Corporation Audio device
USD816635S1 (en) * 2016-03-18 2018-05-01 Bose Corporation Audio device
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JP1566422S (de) * 2016-06-08 2017-01-10
USD815059S1 (en) 2016-08-02 2018-04-10 Bose Corporation Audio device
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USD821352S1 (en) 2016-08-02 2018-06-26 Bose Corporation Audio device
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USD817301S1 (en) * 2016-08-26 2018-05-08 Apple Inc. Headphones
USD803816S1 (en) * 2016-08-31 2017-11-28 Harman International Industries, Incorporated Pair of headphones
USD811366S1 (en) 2016-08-31 2018-02-27 Harman International Industries, Incorporated Wearable audio component
USD851625S1 (en) 2016-08-31 2019-06-18 Harman International Industries, Incorporated Wearable audio component
JP1577261S (de) * 2016-09-05 2017-05-29
USD822646S1 (en) * 2016-09-09 2018-07-10 Bose Corporation Set of headphones
USD826893S1 (en) * 2017-02-03 2018-08-28 Onvocal, Inc. Wearable electronic device accessory
USD842268S1 (en) * 2017-06-12 2019-03-05 Tara Chand Singhal Electronic collar worn around the human neck, for wireless communication with a smart phone
USD845926S1 (en) 2017-06-30 2019-04-16 Apple Inc. Earphones
USD857651S1 (en) * 2017-09-06 2019-08-27 Shenzhen Aukey E-Business Co., Ltd. Wireless headphone set
USD860162S1 (en) * 2017-11-06 2019-09-17 Dan Yuan Headphone
USD902890S1 (en) * 2018-12-19 2020-11-24 Bose Corporation Earbud
USD906293S1 (en) * 2018-12-21 2020-12-29 Bose Corporation Earbud
USD879744S1 (en) * 2019-06-27 2020-03-31 Shenzhen Qianhai Patuoxun Network And Technology Co., Ltd Earphones
USD922984S1 (en) 2019-10-25 2021-06-22 Bose Corporation Earbud
USD943546S1 (en) * 2019-10-31 2022-02-15 Harman International Industries, Incorporated Headphone
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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1189479A1 (de) * 2000-09-15 2002-03-20 Phonic Ear, Inc. Kommunikationssystem mit drahtloser Übertragung
EP4091682A1 (de) * 2021-05-20 2022-11-23 Bodet Time & Sport Erkennung von pfiffen einer trillerpfeife

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